OT: ESPN, ladies and gentlemen. Let's hear it

[forty_three]

Summer X Games 2014 Austin - X Games

Yes. The "X Games" will now include a video game event.

I was starting to write a "drive you nuts" post, but REALLY wanted to call this out on its own.

Drives me especially nuts because at the advent of the video game craze a lot of kids dropped their bikes and skateboards and the corporate money dried up. So a young guy named Matt Hoffman started a series of contests where the winner was determined by the competitors, and the prizes were usually something like a weird trophy and bike parts. Simple enough - the guy who did the craziest thing won. And it was insanely popular. ESPN saw this and created their "Extreme Games". They made millionaires out of around 7 guys with the format. Then, unknown guys started winning, so they limited it to invite only. Then they took out some of the more creative disciplines, in favor of things that translated better to TV and youtube.

Now, they've scrapped several bike, skateboard and inline events so fat kids can scream "n00b!" at each other on TV.

On the plus side, eventually it will move to "posting cat gifs and poking Ranger fans on message boards". And them I am bringing home GOLD!"

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

This country just gets lazier and lazier. This generation is ridiculous.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I echoed several of those sentiments back during the Olympics about sports like slopestyle. I'm sure NBC - or more accurately, NBC's money - had a little something to do with sports like those making it into the Olympics.

I haven't watched the X Games in years though because it's gotten to be about too much stupid shit.

If ever there was a perfect marketing opportunity for Mountain Dew and Cheetos though, this is it.

 

[mattola]

this guy was so far ahead of the times its stupid

 

[forty_three]

I echoed several of those sentiments back during the Olympics about sports like slopestyle. I'm sure NBC - or more accurately, NBC's money - had a little something to do with sports like those making it into the Olympics.

I haven't watched the X Games in years though because it's gotten to be about too much stupid shit.

If ever there was a perfect marketing opportunity for Mountain Dew and Cheetos though, this is it.

That's a double edged sword. Because the amount of athletic ability required to excel at those sports is quite, if you pardon the expression, extreme. And the athletes deserve every shot to compete.

But yeah, only the prettier looking events got in, and the selection process for who competed was pretty flawed. There's a whole lot more to that kind of skiing and snowboarding than those courses.

 

[Comeds]

Since this came up, is anybody else competing in the Second Life Olympics? I am entered in the hammer throw. I hope my avatar doesn't get tested because - spoiler alert - he aint passing if he does! Seriously though, spirit of competition good luck and all that stuff.